Delicious Tips for Cancer Awareness and Prevention

It’s the end of November and that last two months have been dedicated to Cancer awareness for both women and men. So I am doing my part and sharing with you some of my tips to take your health into your own hands. Whether you have been diagnosed breast or prostate cancer or just working towards preventing, it is important to understand that you are responsible for your own health. You have every power within you to control the things YOU do on a day-to-day basis.  You don’t have complete control over such things as genetics, the environments and other extraneous factors (although some would beg to differ), but how you live your life each day up to you!

If your lifestyle choices are positive and health promoting, then you can only help any situation (wherever you are) to make things better. What you eat, what you wear, put on your body and your thoughts all make a difference!

Of all the things that we don’t have the power to manipulate within our lives, you need to focus on what is tangible and realistic.

Take some these preventive steps today to keep your mind and body healthy!

Lifestyle Tips to Prevent, Moderate and Balance!

1. Use organic products on your body – shaving cream, makeup, hair. If you can eat it, it can go on your body. Honey and avocado make a great facemask!
   1. For Men:  Gentleman’s Refinery, Nature Clean Shampoo
   2. For Women: Mad Gabs, Mineral Fusion, Evan Healy, Nature Clean Shampoo
   3. Sleep soundly on organic hemp or bamboo bedding and mattress
   4. Choose organic and sustainable clothing made from organic cotton, bamboo or other natural fabrics. Also get yourself some reusable bags to take with you shopping Bazura Bags, Rume
   5. Use household cleaners that are non-toxic with natural components such as Nature Clean or be simple and use lemon and vinegar.
   6. Get plenty of fresh air.  Escape up north for a drive and marvel at how amazing life truly is amongst fields, trees and lakes
   7. When it comes to food, choose local and organic food – avoiding pesticides, chemicals, GMO,
   8. Use glass storage containers to avoid BPA leaking into your lovingly prepared food check out Wean Green
   9. Avoid the microwave – why expose yourself to radiation when you have so many alternatives, like the stovetop or the oven.
   10. Make time for you. Whether it’s through meditation, yoga, exercise, gardening choose to do things that you love on a regular basis.
   11. Be grateful – we all have daily woes that bring us down, but realistically we are incredibly lucky.   Make a list every morning of at least three things you are grateful for.  It can be as simple as being able to breath and having hands to hold your loved ones, to having a roof over your head, to having internet access!  So many things we take for granted, that if we expressed gratitude every day we would be so much happier and healthier!
   12. Get yourself a copy of Kris Carr’s Crazy Sexy Life and watch Crazy Sexy Cancer. Amazing tips, ideas, recipes and makes light of the whole C word!

Live the Fully Nourished Life with Me

Get into a groove this year and get FULLY NOURISHED!

Get started on the right path of healthy living the Fully Nourished way.  Take your health into your own hands and join this exclusive program.  For the next year, you will be given the tips, tools, ingredients, recipes and hands on experience – so that you can pave the path of health for the rest of your life!

The launch my new Fully Nourished Lifestyle Program has been quite the success. It is so simple, yet so comprehensive and perfect for just about anyone in any stage of their health journey. What this is, is a way for me to guide you step by step for one whole year on healthy living. Not only do you get to enjoy some of my favourite tried tested and true products twice during the course of the year, but you also get to come to 6 of my Fully Nourished cooking classes to learn new tips, tricks and essentials in the kitchen, with more than 50 recipes. Also part of this amazing program is a chance to sit down with me one on one to go over you health goals in a personal consultation. This allows you to discuss with me privately what you want to accomplish in the coming year as far as your health and lifestyle. And just to top it all off you will get all of my ebooks emailed to you at regular intervals during the year depending on the season and what is relevant at that time!

I can’t think of a better way to Nourish your life!

 

YEARLY MEMBERSHIP to the Fully Nourished Life ($1500 – value of more than $2500)

Fully Nourished Cooking Classes
Get hands on experience with whole foods in Marni’s Kitchen and learn how to make delicious recipes for everyday enjoyment
Come once with 5 of your friends, or share 3 classes with a significant other or come to a series of 6 yourself

Life Changing Consultations

Get your very own private time with Marni to set your goals and start to implement changes right away
1 discovery consultation – with some starter ingredients to get you going!
2 follow-up consultations  to track your progress

Nourishing Resources
You’ll be enlightened with Marni’s eBooks, which are filled with recipes, tips and ideas to help make the transition to a nourished lifestyle smooth and easy

Marni’s Essentials
Expect to get 2 fully loaded packages filled with Marni’s basic and most favourite products and kitchen ingredients from grains to seeds.

10% Off all Products and Services

With special first class access to exclusive recipes, products and other events throughout the year!

Why should you join this exclusive program?

TO GET INSPIRED!
This program will change your connection to food and healthy living. You will be empowered to master your meals everyday in the kitchen!

Looking for just a taste and not ready to commit?

Get a jump start on healthy living today. And for 3 months you will experience what it’s like to be fully nourished. With a consultation to get you on the right track and classes and products to give you a taste, you will have the opportunity to make positive lifestyle changes right away – and inspire others as well.

COMPLETE TASTING of the Fully Nourished Life ($500 – value more than $800)

30 min private consultation with Marni

1 follow up session

2 Fully Nourished Cooking Classes

2 of Marni’s Health E Books

1 Fully Nourished kit filled with sustainable products, superfoods and ingredients.

 

 

 

The investment of a lifetime!

To learn more about this amazing membership, send us an email at

gethealthy@marniwasserman.com TODAY!

 

Wean Green – Thinking outside the box!

With the growing consciousness for less packaging and waste it is worth investing in storage items that are long lasting, eco friendly and that look good.

I have recently gotten my hands on some fabulous glass storage containers from Wean Green.

A company whose philosophy is well rooted around creating small enough containers that mom’s could use to store baby food and kids snacks. Whether it’s a home made puree of vegetables or for other dried snacks.  It is nice to be able to have it all portioned out and ready to-use on demand.

These containers are not only eco, fun and come in different shapes and sizes but they can be used by anyone! Let’s think outside the glass box, as I am confidant that teenagers, adults and full time CEO’s can easily load their containers with foods and snacks will compliment their lifestyle and mealtime add-ons.

Some of these containers appear to be on the small side, but that just forces you to be more creative with the space you’ve got. It also is perfect because when you make a full batch of a recipe – let’s say for something like pesto, it’s nice to be able to portion it off for each time of use. The largest size is big enough for a hearty sandwich so before you start getting squeamish that there’s not enough room, let me give you some insight as to how some of these weeny containers can benefit your life.

Here are some of favourite uses for these containers:

Making sauces, dips and spreads. This is a perfect way to store them in indvidual sections so that they can be used without defrosting or using a whole batch of a recipe all at once.

In particular for something like pesto, or sundried tomato dip…both are great store, seal and freeze for future use.

 

Salad Dressings. Whether you are packing it up and taking it for lunch or keeping it in the fridge – either way it is sealed, airtight abd the best part is that it’s homemade! Try this one!

Trail Mix and dry snacks. Packed in your bag, purse of kit or in the cupboard you can use a slightly bigger container to store your fav nuts seeds and dried fruits. Give it enough room to shake and mix all in. Also portion our your favourite crackers, cookies, chips from my favourite companies. That way you don’t have to use a plastic baggie or eat right out of the box (which may sound good in theory, but there is something to be said about portion control when it comes to snacking).

Puddings, Yogurt or Frozen Desserts. Whether you are making a homemade sundae or parfait and having that all portioned out is great for not only portion control but makes it easy for your when you know you want dessert – it is all ready to go for those nights that you want to curl up in front of the TV with a yummy dessert in hand. it is also great for taking breakfast or a snack with you for the day. You don’t have to worry about peeling back the lid of a yogurt container – simply fill it up at home and you are good to go.

 

Banana Cream

2 frozen banana’s

1 tbsp coconut butter from Artisana

1 tsp lacuma powder from Navitas Naturals

 

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until thick and creamy.

Remove, scoop into a wean green container and top with hemp seeds, goji berries and cacao.

 

I am doing a GIVEAWAY. I am offering you the chance to get your hands on one of these beautiful containers.

 

But first you must tell me…

Why you want to try a Wean Green container?

What you would put into your Wean Green containers?

Tweet about @weangreen and @marniwasserman and mention this post! (Sample Tweet below)

“I want to win an @weangreen from @marniwasserman to store my delicious food! #giveaway #ecohappy“

Become of a fan of Wean Green and Delicious Knowledge on Facebook and mention this post!

If you can accomplish all of this ++….you may just be the lucky winner!

TERMS & CONDITIONS: MUST live in Toronto!!! (no exceptions, the winner has to be able to come and claim prize)

Going to Niagara… and I’m gonna, get Married!

To see some of our amazing photo’s from our photographer Assaf Friedman click here!

Wow. That is crazy to say. So busy writing and posting about all other things and haven’t even had a chance to share my wedding updates with you. Coming up this Sunday July 31st – I will be a married women. Other than letting you know that I am having a vegetarian wedding there is so much more for me to share!

Okay where to start!!

The ceremony: Niagara Botanical Gardens

The reception: Queens Landing – in Niagara on the lake

My wedding dress: Is 100% local and vegetable dyed on natural silk designed by Adele Wechsler

My make-up: organically done by Erin Carpenter

Shoes: There are a few – but the most fun are my Toms vegan late night dancing shoes!

The menu: will be made local fresh ingredients!

Lentil and Sweet potato patties with black/white quinoa with tahini drizzle and roasted veg

 

Jewellery: Hand-made and local with natural gemstones and pearls !

Also I have created some of the most amazing welcome wedding gift bags in each of our guest’s rooms.

I was so graciously supported by contributors such as:

Sha Sha- spelt ginger heart shaped cookies

Mary’s Crackers- gluten free, vegan tasty crackers

Goconut – cinnamon coconut snacks

Nourish Tea - a selection of their teas with filters

Ruth’s hemp bars – vegan energy snack bars

Cocoa Camino chocolate - organic, vegan chocolate bars

Sweet from the Earth cookies- spelt chocolate chip cookies

Now that’s a bag of goodies!

And lastly,

Kiki Maple Sweet Water will be served during ceremony at Niagara botanical gardens to refresh and replenish our guests under the hot sun!

 

We had the most amazing weekend celebrating with our friends and family and enjoying delicious food!

 

In a few weeks I will provide this post with

updated pictures from the wedding!!

My favourite kind of Butter!

Take a look and see what I have to say about my LOVE for nut butters and what I use in my kitchen!

 

Since the term butter can be applied to more than just a creamed milk substance – but to anything that is thick, creamy and loaded with nutrients – I will share what kind of “butters” are my favourites!

These butters come from nuts and seeds and other plant varieties. When you take a nut or a seed and grind it down or blend it into a puree – you will get a thick, sticky substance that makes an excellent substitute for traditional butter and even peanut butter!

(The reason why I am not a fan of peanut butters is because there are so many allergies associated with it. Peanuts also often are grown where there is more a chance for certain toxin’s and molds to grow with it. And lastly peanuts – are actually not a NUT they are legume, grown from the ground and not a tree like most other nuts. But that being said, there are so many delicious and nutritious alternatives.)

It’s easy enough to make your own blends at home by grabbing at least a cups worth of nuts – let’s say almonds – placing them in your food processor and leaving it on for about 3-5 minutes. The oils will start to separate and you will get a smooth paste soon enough. If you don’t quite have the time or means to make your own then support companies that go out of their way to make them for us.

There are quite a few companies that I use to support my love for nut butters

Sun Butter – the best sunflower seed butter (tastes like peanut butter)

Blue Mountain Organics – better than roasted seed and nut butters (raw natural butters)

Then there is also Artisana which is a company that has put true love and care into the quality of their butters. They have a variety from nut based butters from almond and walnut to cocoa, coconut and tahini (sesame seed) butters. They use only organically sourced nuts. Which is extremely important. Since nuts are fat soluble, if they are not organic they usually carry with them toxins and other residues that can absorb within the nut. You can truly taste this purity in their products.

There is something (hopefully) for everyone. Since I love their packaging and product philosophy I have been so genoursoulsy given a whole batch of their wonderul products and now I want to give some away to you!

Tell me why you love seed or nut butters?

What do you put your “butter” on?

In order to win you must live in Canada and:

1. Comment Below

2. Share on Facebook

3. Share on Twitter

This contest is now closed! Thank you for all of your comments.

Homemade veggie burger love

It’s Burger season! The May long weekend has come and gone and people are lighting up their barbeques and throwing on a piece of meat, often overcooking it and tossing it on a white bun. This seems to be the tradition, but it doesn’t have to be!

As you have just learned meat does not equate protein or a healthful part of the diet. In fact, once cooked or shall I say putrefied as it is on a grill your meat becomes less edible and your body has to work extra hard just to break it down. That being said, there is a time and place for everything. If you are going to choose to eat meat, please source natural and organic suppliers such as The Healthy Butcher or other local choices and don’t over-cook your meat!

However, eating a veggie burger which is much easier for your body to digest, tastes amazing and is loaded with healthful plant based protein is a great way to go this summer. Now I have to admit, even some veggie burgers can be made with poor quality ingredients. Especially if made from the wrong kind of soy or some other derivative that is not natural. There can be so many preservatives and sodium shoved into a “natural” veggie patty. Then it is frozen, packaged and sold as a health food. This is where you need to do your homework and look at those labels!

What I am talking about here is a whole food veggie burger make with whole grains, seeds, veggies and love! It can be quite easy, just following a certain formula to get the right consistency and texture, and even if you don’t and it still tastes good, than that works too.

So I decided to take some of my favourite gluten free and vegan ingredients and blend them all together in a food processor for form patties that look like this.

Kind of looks like a real burger…right?

Once the patties are formed and baked, the next step is to pop them in the oven. Of course you can throw them on the BBQ as well, I would suggest putting them on a pan on some parchment as you wouldn’t want them to fall apart or get too overcooked.

Then once they are done, you can load them onto a sprouted bun, wrap, top on a salad, wrap in some collard greens or eat just as is. This is what my plate looked like…

Beet Quinoa Veggie Burger

What’s in it:

1 cup cooked quinoa

1/4 cup sunflower seeds

1 clove garlic, chopped

2 tbsp chopped parsley

1/2 red onion, peeled and chopped

1/4 cup grated carrot

3/4 cup cooked white beans

2 tbsp grated beets

1 tbsp tamari

2 tbsp brown rice flour

1 tsp kelp granules

1/2 tsp mustard powder

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp sea salt

1 tsp tapioca powder

3 tbsp fresh parsley

How it’s made:

Line a tray with parchment paper and pre-heat oven to 350F (optional).

1. In the bowl of a food processor place sunflower seeds and grind until a fine flour is made. Add the quinoa, garlic, parsley, onion and carrot, pulse until combined.

2. Add the white beans and continue to blend until smooth.

3. Put this mixture in the mixing bowl and add the remaining ingredients. Stir until everything is mixed together.

4. Take approx 1/4 cup of the mixture out, divide and form into 6-8 patties.

5. Place on baking tray and place into the oven for 20 minuts. 10 minutes each side to get them crispy.

6. Alternatively, place the patties on a grill for 3-5 minutes.

 

Do you make your own veggie burgers? What in them?

giddy-yoyo giveaway

 

I am continuously on the look out for great products that I want to support and promote – especially when it comes to chocolate. Mark and Bridgette have been at it for the last few years and have brought their love for chocolate to life.

They have masterfully created a line of raw chocolate bars that are made with Love and Gratitude, 70% plus pure cacao paste, chocolate, pure cane sugar and crafted essence extracts for each bar. Whether mocha, mint, ginger, orange, spice or just plain delicious original.

Why Giddy Chocolate?

As you know, I am not one for packaged products, but there are a few that I endorse and think are a great addition to a balanced lifestyle. Especially when it comes to chocolate. Since most commercial chocolate bars are just not an option (being loaded with sugar, dairy and containing cocoa that is devoid of any nutrition), why not get your hands on some pure giddy love. Carry them around in your purse or car (though not on a hot summer day). Keep them in your freezer, bring them to a movie, share with a friend – or mix into recipes.

I like to crumble my mint giddy yoyo bar on top of some Coconut Bliss ice cream for a chocolate – minty dessert. I have also crumbled down the original and ginger to top on some strawberries for a refreshing and tasty dessert. Your options are limitless.

The giddy yoyo chocolate is from the most pristine and exotic lands. They way the cacao processed is minimally invasive keeping the cacao as intact and as pure as possible. There is no side effects or strong caffeine-like reactions from consuming giddy yoyo, just pure enjoyment. To find out more see here.

Why Cacao?

The cacao bean is one of nature’s highest sources of magnesium and antioxidants, it is also high in iron, vitamin C, zinc, manganese, chromium, copper and fiber. Kind of like a multi-vitamin? It is also beneficial to your cardiovascular system, prevents against cancer, can balance blood sugar, lower cholesterol and makes you happy as cacao contains trytophan which is key for mood-enhancing and overall feeling good!

Now that you know why chocolate is so good for you,  I want you to have the chance to try one of these amazing bars.  I only have a few bars to give away, so please tell me why you are worthy of a giddy yoyo bar.

What you need to do to win is:

Comment below – tell me why you love chocolate or why you want to try some giddy yoyo.

Follow – Follow me on Twitter or become my Friend on Facebook and share this link and comment there.

Share – Post this link on Facebook and Twitter - linking post or tweet to me.

Like - Delicious Knowledge and giddy yoyo – and share on both of our pages.

 

Who ever shows the most activity and the most love – will win one of the 6 bars that I have to give away.

 

 

 

Dress Your Soul!

 

I am not usually one to recommend buying a store bought salad dressings, as I am a fan of making my own, but these aren’t any salad dressings – they are raw, pure, organic, nut free, vegan and delicious!

These amazing salad dressings have made their way to Canadian stores. I am proud to say that my family is behind this. My two cousin’s are the tag team who have created salad dressing infusions that are sure to dress your soul from the inside out. I am thrilled that healthy foods, and pure living runs in the family!

You don’t get that with salad dressings. Most are loaded with poor quality oil, sugar, preservatives and usually have a pretty bad after taste. I can’t even recall one that I have every loved off of the shelves of a grocery store.

Raw Dressings, are blended to perfection using top quality ingredients like olive oil, sesame seeds, apple cider vinegar, coconut sweetener and then added superfoods like dulse, goji berries, poppy seeds and hemp seeds. Each variety has it’s own unique flavour and can be paired with salad greens for any meal, any time of day.

To give you a run down on the flavours:

Sea-zar serenity is NOT your typical Caesar salad dressing. In conjunction with being entirely plant-based, organic and gluten-free, this dressing is comprised of a list of incredible, health-promoting, hand-selected ingredients. Dulse is loaded with protein, vitamins B6 and B12, potassium and iron. It also contains vitamins A, C and E (all super antioxidants) and large amounts of calcium. When coupled with other superfoods such as hemp and chia seeds, this power-packed dressing contains countless nutritional benefits and immune-boosting properties. These attributes put sea-zar serenity in a class of its own. However, when paired with superior consistency and taste, you won’t believe it’s actually good for you. Sea-zar serenity – Rich with minerals, vitamins and antioxidants, this dressing won’t cease to serenade your senses, fulfill your diet and satisfy your soul!

French Fusion is a superior blend of super foods with a secret ingredient: the goji berry. This highly sustainable, immune-building, strength-promoting fruit makes our dressing incredibly unique and satisfying. There’s a polysaccharide found in the goji berry that stimulates the secretion of the rejuvenative human growth hormone. This sensational fusion of protein, vitamins and mineral-rich ingredients is created to perfection. French fusion is more than a comfort dressing with massive health benefits and savoury taste, it’s your salad’s answer to the fountain of youth

Purely poppy is a delicious alternative to the creamy-style, traditional poppy seed dressing. RawFoodz version is a powerhouse of nutrients with a plethora of disease-fighting, health-promoting, immune-boosting properties. Fortified with organic, unhulled sesame seeds and poppy seeds, each bottle contains an extra dose of calcium. In addition to protecting colon cells from cancer-causing chemicals, calcium helps in the prevention of bone loss and migraines, as well as the relief of PMS symptoms. This delectable dressing adds zest to any salad, while increasing your consumption of vitamins, minerals, omega 3′s, enzymes and antioxidants. Purely Poppy’s tangy taste and health-topping ingredients create a blended sensation of pure pleasur

Glorious Greek is a healthy infusion of Mediterranean bliss. Our unique blend of premium, organic ingredients make this a dynamic, wholesome and improved version of typical greek style dressing. With added hemp seeds, glorious greek becomes rich in protein, fiber, omega 3&6, vitamins and minerals. Our heaping dose of organic oregano provides effective anti-bacterial and antioxidant activity. Loaded with heart healthy and immune-boosting ingredients, this dressing is nutritionally dense, palate pleasing and exceptionally delicious. Glorious greek is clearly a step beyond a journey, it’s your salad’s destination!

These dressings are showing up in health food stores across Ontario – so be sure to look for your favourite blend in the produce section of your local health food and grocery stores!

You will be also able to purchase and sample their dressings at my cooking classes!

Why Choose Rice Milk?

Many people are still confused about the notion of rice milk. They turn up their faces and say “rice milk, what is that I don’t get it?” Then I simply tell them it is milk make from rice. You can basically make a milk using any grain believe it or not. Unfortunately it is not easy to make rice milk at home. Definitely not as easy as making your own homemade nut milk.

So unfortunately and fortunately rice milk would fit into a packaged product, but definitely on my approved packaged list!

There are many varieties at health food stores, grocery stores and other markets in between. Seemingly they may all be the same, but they are not. Many contain oils, added sugar and even preservatives. So just because it is non dairy, vegan and gluten free, doesn’t mean that it is always healthy. It is important to look at the fine print and look at the label.

The one brand that I have stayed loyal to over the years is Ryza. It is clean, pure and doesn’t have any oil, added sugar and hold together a really nice consistency. I don’t find that it separates like other rice milks. It is creamy, wholesome and delicious. I love pouring it on my oats in the morning, blending up in my smoothies or mixing it straight with just some Sun Warrior protein for a super high protein beverage.

 

 

So why choose Ryza Rice milk?

- easy to digest

- gluten free

- vegan

- made from whole grain brown rice

- alternative to dairy

- can use for baking and other recipes

- allergy free

- can use it in coffee and tea

- kids love it

- no oil

- no added sugar

Rice Milk Recipes:

Cozy Chai Latte

Yummy Berry Smoothie

Apple Muffins

 

 

The Cleanse…

 

My assistant Abby and I have  decided to take on the task of doing Health Force Nutritionals Cleanse. I have done some version of this cleanse  3 times over the past 3 years.  I think I  always forget just how intense it really is. The amount of integrity and energy each of their powders and capsule contains is insane. They are loaded with super herbs, nutrients and other special cleansing properties that you pretty much feel right away.

In the past I have taken on both a 7 day and two week cleanse. This year I decided to do 4 days and finish the remaining 3 at a later date. I started with the first four days which was of course intense. As taking up to 20 capsules in one sitting is like eating a meal. Since there is never a good time to do a cleanse, the timing coincided right into my trip to New York which you will be finding out about very soon. So I had to end my cleanse a bit early.

When it comes to cleansing for me, I don’t do anything drastic with my diet or my overall habits – as you can imagine they are already pretty good. So it may mean that I am eating a little less chocolate and maple syrup throughout the week, but my meals stay pretty much the same with  more of an emphasis on raw foods and juicing. Since that was the goals of mine and Abby’s whole cleanse, to go raw for 30 days. That very quickly changed when April turned out to be such a cold month and we just wanted to stick with clean vegetarian food instead.

Read my views or opinion on cleansing in general that I wrote for Chatelaine a couple of weeks ago:

Marni’s Views on Cleansing in General

So the way my day looked like was this…

Green Juice – apple, cucumber, celery, kale, lemon, ginger, parsley

Smoothie – typically a green smoothie loaded with blueberries, almond milk, chia, kale and sun warrior protein powder

Organic wholesome dinner – this may have included quinoa, steamed kale, sweet potatoes, green salad or sprouted bread with avocado.

Possible snacks: rice cakes with almond butter, walnuts, almonds, cashews, apple, sunflower seeds, sprouts or green juice.

Note on HealthForce Products -

They truly take health and healing seriously. Their motto is “100% Truganic” which means everything is true, pure and organic! Just taking 1 tablespoon of their vitamineral greens in your juice or smoothie is powerful enough that I truly feel it in every cell. I have never used or would recommend a “greens” powder as potent as theirs.

The other products in this cleanse included a liver cleanse, bowel movement formula and intestinal drawing formula. They all do what exactly they say they will do. And you feel them working. Every herb, nutrient and detail has been research and analyzed as being an integral component of the product. I truly commend Jameth Sheriden, the naturopath and genius behind these products. They are truly one of a kind. So if you are every thinking of taking on a cleanse with more than just food,  I would certainly give health force a try. These products will just take your cleansing to the next level and truly work on your organs to keep them functioning efficiently. This is not something to do more than once or twice a year. The start or change of a season is usually the best time, but otherwise just trust and listen to your body. Otherwise, if herbals are too much for you, just choose to stick to a cleanse wholesome vegetarian and you will attain a clean peaceful mind and body.

Since I had done a Healthforce Nutritional cleanse before, I made sure Abby was on board to try one with me this year. It is so much easier to do it with a someone or at least have some one else keep you on track.

Read Abby’s Review!

How YOU can live longer NOW!

I don’t have all the answers, but I do have a few suggestions. Last week I had the honour of being a participant in the bi-annual Longevity Now conference hosted by David “Avocado” Wolfe. It is a power packed weekend filled with information to benefit all. I am being asked by my friends and students, left right and center, “what did you learn, how was it, tell me more?” Well now is my chance to share. But first, what I do have to say is that I got out of it exactly what I needed at this time in my life. Since there is so much information presented in such a short span of time, I really had to select what I wanted to get out of it – and I did just that!

There was everything from the new latest supplements to how to sleep in a way that will heal our bodies out of pain. So it’s diverse and very well rounded. I am not going to take you through the entire weekend, but I am going to focus on some helpful tips that you can use NOW to help you on your journey to live a long healthy life. It’s not about living to 120 years of age, it’s about the quality of your life every day from today forward…but if you can live 120 yeas while thriving (not surviving) – all the better!

So here is a list of what I learned, embraced and now want to share with you!

Get Grounded: Connect with mother earth – get outside and go barefoot in the grass. Trust me it feels amazing! On a whole, we have lost this connection with the growth of the shoe industry, cemented homes and high-rise industrial buildings. When our feet don’t make direct contact with the ground, we miss out on true vitality. I encourage you to give it a try. Good thing spring is around the corner. Kids love to be barefoot – so follow their footsteps literally and don’t compromise your health and innate strength.

However since we can’t go barefoot all the time, all year round and even walking barefoot in our homes doesn’t really count, there are amazing devices that help us to re-gain that connection. They grounding products by Earthing! I have just recently become a consumer of their products and it’s just been over a week and  I have already noticed tremendous differences in my energy levels, sleep patterns and overall well being. I have a grounding pad (which my feet are on right now) a mouse pad (which my hand is on right now) and a sheet on my bed – along with some other goodies. Please have a look at the Grounded website for more info and to find out what I am talking about! But if you want to purchase your own devices click here and look under household products!

Nourish with food, superfoods and herbs: Well this should be no surprise! Considering you are on the Fully Nourished website! This is what I am all about! So there was lots of information on food and nutrition, although I consider myself well versed in the area already, there is always more to learn. There are really 3 levels when it comes to food. The first being to make sure you are drinking enough filtered, pure or spring water, then get your essentials in the form of healthy fats, protein and carbohydrates while choosing mainly raw plant based sources for fuel. Get my book if you want more ideas on how to Veg Comfortably .  Then there is the next level – Superfoods – these are the foods that are loaded full of nutrients, vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients that are vital to long lasting health. This can be in the form of cacao, goji berries, hemp, maca, leafy greens, chlorella, blueberries, brazil nuts, sea vegetables. They are all amazing and should be included in some way, shape or form into your everyday diet! The last level is the herbals . Whether it’s in the form of a tea, a capsule or elixir, herbs are necessary for taking your health  to the next level. Some herbs to think about, research and possibly include are the mushrooms : (chaga, reishi, mitaki, shiataki) shatavari, astragalus, ashwaganda, nettles, tulsi – let’s just start with that! Again this happens to be the start of spring – a good time for herbs – so find out what works for you and your body and go from there!

Cook in clean cookware: This is an extremely important area. Most people don’t think twice about their cookware. They just assume that as long as they have good ingredients, then all is good. Not true. The second you put your gorgeous vibrant organic kale in toxic (I mean tephlon) cookware – then you have not only killed your kale, but you have infused it with toxins and vapours that I won’t even get into in this post. Just cause things don’t stick, doesn’t mean it’s good for you. So investing in quality cookware that is surgical grade Stainless Steel and Titanium is the best choice. This cookware (the cookware I use in my classes) will also not “cook” your food the way that you think it needs to be cooked. Water doesn’t have to boil and oil doesn’t have to splatter to ensure that the heat is high enough, in fact at that point you are again – destroying the nutrients and contents of your food. If you want to learn more about the cookware I use in my class and ask all your questions please click here!

Sleep with-OUT a pillow: Yes you heard right…no pillow! Our pillows have become a drug (according to David Wolfe) we are so dependent on them. We love curling up to them at night, but then complain of neck aches in the morning? So why bother! I have been sleeping with my face on my mattress directly for years…but that still isn’t as good as sleeping on your side with your arm/shoulder held out under your head (if you can picture that). But the distance between your neck space and the mattress should be perfectly filled in by your arm. This is ideal for proper neck and spinal alignment. Just like with anything it will take time to adjust, but once you do this – on your grounded sheet (see home products)- you will start to notice just how well you are sleeping and waking up pain free!

Jump up and down: Sounds like fun doesn’t it! Well you can do it outside and barefoot of course…but what I am talking about here is rebounding! Getting yourself a equipped with a solid rebounder for health and of course longevity. When you rebound you are able to exercise your whole body, even your cells! Everything is targeted, working and strengthening. When we challenge our body against gravity we are also able to stimulate the lymphatic system without any trauma to our skeletal system. Most re-bounders are small enough to have in a room or the basement of your house, some even fold up so that you can travel with them anywhere you go!

Breath in and out: This is probably the most important thing you can do everyday, multiple times a day. and something you may always hear about, but still aren’t doing correctly. Yes we all breath every day, but very few of us actually take in a breath. You will know when you do, because you will feel it. Drawing air in through your nose for a deep inhalation, expanding your belly fully and exhaling your breath out (for longer than your inhale) through your mouth. Sounds simple enough, but you will notice that most of your breaths are through your chest – lifting it up and not fully taking in the air. So try it the right way, through your belly. It will calm you down, bring down your stress response, relax your body and your mind. Something we all need to live a more complete and wholesome life!

Laugh, smile and love a lot – Again this sounds so simple, but most of us can go through each day without laughing, smiling or telling someone that you love them.  As a society, we are too serious. Too caught up with the mundane and don’t take time to enjoy what really matters. It is kind of sad when you look at that way. But think about how good you feel when someone breaks out in laughter, smiles at you or tells you that they love you. You get warm and tingly and can’t help but feel great all over! So why don’t we do this more often? We can eat all the best food in the world,  take all the best supplements, herbs but nothing will have as much an effect as this. This is something I am learning and becoming more aware of myself and the results are profound.

 

So these are just some of my recommendations to get started on a path were you can start LIVING longer today!

Want more guidance?

Join my Delicious Living Retreat in beautiful Bancroft Ontario at Grail Springs!

AND/OR

Join my Raw Rejuvenation Retreat in beautiful Collingwood Ontario in June!

AND/OR

Get my one or both of my Health-E-Books that are jam-packed full of resources and information for better nutrition!

From Sha Sha….with Love!

Last Monday, family day – Ryan and I went to the Sha Sha Co. factory. If you aren’t familiar with this incredible product line, it is about time you are! Sha Sha Bread Co is a Canadian bakery company that is responsible for making some of the most incredibly nutritious and tastiest products on the market. From a variety of sprouted breads, to delicious heart shaped cookies, and more recently launched is their new bio buds and a sprouted buckwheat snack.

I have been in love with thier products (breads, pizza crusts, flatbreads) for years now, as they embrace spelt as a staple grain, they take pride in the baking process by soaking and sprouting their grains and everything they make just tastes so good and is made with love.

I will be featuring some of thier products at our wedding and Ryan will be fueled on ShaSha goodness for his treck to the north pole – see more here!

It is one thing to love a product and buy it and use it. But it is another thing to actually meet the creator himself, Sha Sha, and go to visit the factory. Everthing just seemd happen coincidentally. Ryan and I were planning to go and visit the factory on Family Day, and just the weekend before, I attended the annual Organic Groweres Conference and listened to Sha Sha speak at two seperate lectures over the weekend.

Sha Sha is purely passionate about what he does. He is a baker at heart and wanted nothing more than to make the most nutritoius breads and baked goods. He set out on this mission and now has a full thriving business because of it. I can totally relate to this, as a good business just doesn’t come with hard work and money – it comes with passion and love. Something I take pride in everyday with my own business. So after hearing the voice behind the breads and goodies I have been indulging in for years, this made me even more excited to visit his home…the ShaSha Co. factory.

I call it a home, because that is truly what the factory felt like. Being a family run business – it is has the warmth and feel as if we were invited into Sha Sha’s home. With kids and families part taking in the free event on family day you could just see how excited kids actually get about their products. Using bright colours and friendly packaging also thier facility is nut free – which opens it’s doors to even more avenues. The factory also implements green practices that have the environment in mind like re-using water, being efficient with energy and power usage, managing waste and paper trails and sourcing local and organic products as much as possible to keep the costs and travel emissions low! Sha Sha is truly innovative in everything that he does and we all get to benefit from it as a result!

The array of products that Sha Sha offers

Sha Sha educating his visitors

Lots of Love!

Ready to be enjoyed!

 

 

Happy with our goodie bags of treats!

 

Can’t all factories be like this? Filled with love, making delicious happy and healthy products that everyone can enjoy?

Thanks Sha Sha for being a frontier!

 

Have you tried Sha Sha breads or products? if not…..

Tell me why you love them and I might just send you some delicious spelt ginger heart cookies!

Attention Chocoholics Everywhere! There is hope.

Welcome my Guest Blogger today Sara Ouellette owner of Beyond Vitality!

As some of you may know, I have been living abroad discovering the world’s natural health products and superfoods.  For three years I traveled back and forth between Canada and the beautiful exotic country of Venezuela, finally moving there permanently this past September.  I loved discovering all the local superfoods, those that we up in Canada (no we don’t live in igloos), cherish so much!

I could go on forever about all the wonderful and nourishing treats from nature that Venezuela has to offer!  The many landscapes of this tropical warm country have everything including wild aloe vera plants, coconut, cacti, noni, papaya, sea weed, pineapple, pumalaca, cacao and much more!

Chocoholics…this is for you…so listen up!  The one superfood I want to talk to you about is real chocolate.  I’m excited to tell you that real RAW chocolate is indeed a superfood!  You can turn cravings for cooked, processed chocolate into super-nutrition instead. All chocolate is made from the cacao fruit.  Inside the cacao fruit are beans.  These cacao beans are used to make RAW, organic chocolate!

Cacao Fruit

I was fortunate to have seen the process in which cacao is produced.  I visited my friend’s organic cacao farm in the lush rainforest of Los Altos, Venezuela. How amazing is it that they produce their OWN chocolate!  Yummy!  Venezuelan cacao is the finest, rarest, most expensive cacao in the world.  The beans have a unique flavor.  In case you are wondering, cacao tastes similar to, yet BETTER than, Baker’s Unsweetened Chocolate. A natural sweetener can often be used in conjunction with your raw treat ingredients, such as raw honey, stevia, coconut sugar, agave nectar, banana or pure maple syrup.

The cacao beans are grown in the mountains using no pesticides, fertilizers or chemicals of any type.  The trees in which the cacao fruit grows are irrigated by the fresh water that runs down from the clouds in the forest-topped mountains. Once the beans have been harvested they are sun dried right on the small property in the mountains, and hand packaged for local consumption.

Sun Dried Cacao Beans

When looking for cacao or raw chocolate in health food stores, it’s very important to look for fair trade and organic varieties that support small, indigenous farmers in Central/South America and the West Indies.

So why is it ok to LOVE raw chocolate?  Well, first off, it tastes divine.  And second, it’s good for you.  The cacao bean contains a wide array of amazing nutritional properties.  It is filled with antioxidants and alkalizing minerals, including high levels of magnesium and sulfur. Back in high school, I used to crave EVERYTHING chocolate uncontrollably…mostly processed chocolate (aka Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups or Nutella).  Processed chocolate is NOT the same as good quality raw chocolate!  When cacao is cooked, most of its nutritional properties are completely destroyed.  Chocolate cravings often indicate a magnesium deficiency because your body is craving the magnesium from the cacao.  Processed chocolate never satisfies your body because it has close to NO minerals and it’s filled with refined sugar, which is acidifying in the blood and actually leaches out minerals from our bones and tissues!  Since I started consuming quality raw cacao, I haven’t yet had another “processed” chocolate craving.  Really…it’s been over two years now!

The cacao fruit is sweet and tasty.

A study by the Center for Health and Nutrition

Elaborates the following findings: “Analysis of the fruit powders demonstrated that the antioxidant capacity of cocoa powder was significantly greater than blueberry, cranberry and pomegranate powder on a per gram basis. The total polyphenol content of cocoa powder appeared to be greater than acai, blueberry and cranberry powder; however these differences did not reach statistical significance. The total flavanol content of cocoa powder was significantly greater than all of the other fruit powders tested.”

Not only is it high in antioxidants and minerals, cacao may also increase your focus and alertness, making it a good healthy alternative to your morning coffee.  I love adding cacao to my breakfast shake.  Who would have thought chocolate would be “healthy” option for breaky!

Cacao also contains plenty of nutrients that keep you happy J Chocolate is often associated to love and seduction. This is all because cacao contains phenylethylamine. Also, your brain produces a neurotransmitter called Anandamide when you’re feeling GREAT. Eating cacao makes this neurotransmitter stick around longer thus increasing your happiness.  Raw cacao beans, nibs or powder can be used in a variety of ways.  I like adding it in baked goods, oatmeal, shakes. and to make a cup of hot chocolate to warm up on a chilly day.

Try out my favorite morning shake that uses cacao as your wake-me-up “stimulant” instead of coffee.  It’ll start you out on a positive vibe and leave you full of happy energy!

Cacao-Banana Dream Shake  (aka the “Happy Shake”)

1 scoop sprouted vegan protein (or 100% natural whey protein isolate)

2 tbsp of ground flaxseed

1 tsp raw cacao powder [makes you happy]

½ medium banana [increases serotonin to give you a natural “high”]

½ cup organic almond milk (or hemp milk)

¼ tsp natural vanilla extract (optional)

Blend all ingredients while adding water and ice as needed.  Serve fresh.  ENJOY!

Fill me with Falafel

I love Mediterranean food and all it has to offer, hummus, tabule (as long as it’s quinoa based), salads, lentil soup and even falafel! But I can’t just indulge in any falafel as most are fried and often contain wheat flour. It is about time I made my own version. So last week I was lucky enough to have a good friend of mine mention that she was making a batch of homemade falafels. I had her send over the recipe that she used and then I made my own conversions that suited my palette and my preferences.

I am so super excited to share these with you. I am also so excited that I can now make my own batch of them and store them in the freezer and warm them up for a quick protein power-packed lunch, snack or dinner. They are gluten free (without the spelt breadcrumbs), nut free, vegan and make an incredible addition to any meal.

If you didn’t know this already, falafel’s are made from chickpeas, one of my favourite beans or legumes. They have a unique flavour, are high in protein, fiber and complex carbohydrates and you can do so much with them! Once you have cooked up a fresh batch of chickpeas from scratch, the sky is the limit as far as recipes from soups to hummus or bean dip, coconut curry or a  bean salad and now I have one more to add to the mix!

A quick note on cooking your own cooking your own chickpeas. This is by far the more superior healthy way to go, not only will your beans taste better but they will be less “gassy” and you won’t be as bloated. It is vital that you cook your beans with Kombu – a sea vegetable that helps to break down the beans and help with digestion + it is adding a load of minerals and nutrients into the cooking water. It needs to be removed after cooking.

How To Cook Your Beans:

The night before you decide to make beans, pull out a large pot and fill it half full of water. Place the bean in the water and allow to set for at least 12 hours. Use filtered water for best results. The next morning, drain the water and replace with more water. For every cup of beans add four cups of water. Add the strip of Kombu to the pot and begin to boil the beans. Once at a rolling boil, allow to boil for 20 minutes, then reduce heat and simmer for 2 to 4 hours depending on the beans and recommended times on the packaging. Cook until soft. Drain and Serve!

However if time is a factor and you didn’t plan ahead and you want to use canned, go with EDEN organic canned beans. They are preserved with Kombu and the cans are BPA free!

As you can see here, I got really creative and topped my balls on a bed of steamed kale, with roasted brussel sprouts, sweet potatoes and cauliflower.

Then I drizzled my homemade tahini sauce on top!

Below is my Falafel’s on a Spelt wrap with lettuce, cucumber and carrot + my tahini sauce!

Home Baked Falafels

1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas

1 small red onion chopped

2 large garlic cloves, chopped

4 tablespoons CHICKPEA FLOUR (can use brown rice or quinoa flour)

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1 tablespoon ground coriander

1/4 teaspoon chili powder (optional)

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

ground black pepper to taste

2 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon ground Chia (from Navitas) + 3 tablespoons water (makes 1 egg)

1 grated carrot

2 tablespoons dried parsley

Roll in 1/2 cup  Spelt breadcrumbs (Sha Sha)

Preheat oven to 400F.

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment.

2. Combine the chickpeas, onion, garlic, flour, spices, oil and salt, pulse in a food processor until the mixture is well combined and smooth.

3. Form the mixture into 8-12 small balls or patties with wet hands.

4. Roll each ball in breadcrumbs if preferred (or do half and half).

5. Bake in oven for approx. 30-35 minutes or until crispy and golden.

Serve these delights in a pita, wrap with hummus, tahini sauce or on top of a salad.

Homemade Tahini Sauce

1/4 cup pure tahini

2-4 tablespoons of water to thin out

1/2 of one lemon, juiced

1/4 cup chopped parsley

Blend all together in blender – it can be as creamy or thin as you desire!

What would you put your Falafels in or on?

Where have you eaten the best Falafels?

My thoughts on the Oprah show…

It has taken me almost a week to collect my thoughts on the Oprah show from last week. If you missed it…find out more here. But just to give you some background on the show,  Oprah and 378 of the Harpo staff went vegan for one week. Well it all sounds good in theory but when I thought about the show and broke it down, there is a lot that needs to be said. Of course I don’t have all the answers, so I encourage you to share as well.

To start out (my starter kit):

The new  term “Vegan-ish” was coined on the show which I actually like – as long as it means fresh whole foods. However I am afraid that is not the message viewers got from this show. I know that most people after this show are thinking about attempting to “lean” into veganism to see how it works for them and their lifestyle – but if “vegan-ish” gets the reputation that experimenting with processed and packaged foods – then that is clearly the wrong message. Anyways, there is so much to share, and that is why it has taken me so long to post my thoughts.

I have decided to organize and summarize my thoughts in terms of what I liked and what I didn’t like . You will see my points emphasized and then in italics beside are my suggestions and thoughts on what could have been done!

What I didn’t like:

In the beginning of the show Oprah mentions how she has access to good free range eggs….great but what about America? Why couldn’t other suggestions be made of how those without access can get their hands on farm fresh organic eggs?

There was not much education on how + why one would choose to go vegan. It seemed like the staff was given the challenge, given a bag of groceries, fed vegan food for lunch – but did not have a full understanding of health + ethical implications of a vegan diet. Why couldn’t cooking classes, info sessions or workshops or cookbooks been given throughout the week to go into depth on the benefits + different topics, not to convert people to veganism but just to make them aware and enlighten them?

On that note, why were there grocery bags to take home filled with Junk Food – when they clearly mentioned on the show that a vegan diet can be junk based unless people make healthy choices. The staff weren’t left to make healthy choices, they were snacking on cereal, chips, cookies all week long, but that is okay because it was vegan…right?

It was pointed out, as it is always an area of interest that vegans do not have enough nutrients or get enough protein etc… Yes, this is absolutely the truth when eating a vegan junk food diet. This will of course create imbalances and cause people to become ill or malnourished. If people are shown how to eat a balanced, whole and fresh diet as a vegan, these imbalances are much less likely!

Because Kathy Freston is clearly not a nutritionist, the staff should have been told of some of the adjustments and changes they might experience during the week (gas, bloating, more bowel movements, lethargy, headaches) having this information beforehand might have helped the process. Also this may potentially help to increase the follow through rate of staying on a plant  based diet for longer knowing that your body will change over the course of a few weeks and that it takes time for your body to adjust.

Kathy Freston also took a family grocery shopping  to “restock” their kitchen (after being unloaded of processed food) so that they can make “healthy meals” at home using faux meat substitues- the kids clearly demonstrated that they didn’t like the meal that was prepared. That is never a good sign, especially for national TV and people considering going vegan. How good can a ground up soy concoction taste as the basis of a meal – at least take this opportunity to show the family how to cook with fresh whole foods? Even using organic ground turkey would have been a better choice!

Just to reiterate…America was shown (even in a Whole Foods Market) that a vegan diet comes from a package or a freezer- America got to see the Tofurky and Earth Balance define the basis of a vegan diet! Eating truly vegan to me means eating plants, neither of those options are plants.. why wasn’t quinoa, beans, yams or a head of kale shown to viewers of the show?

The produce aisle was completely over looked in the store, not even mentioned. That is where people need to be shopping!

And lastly it infuriated me, that they showed  Cargill is our “friendly neighborhood” meat slaughtering/meat packing plant. Okay, so it is clean and well managed, but the cows still eat genetically modified corn and other “grains” which are most likely just ground up sugars and potentially other meats. The cows were packed into a feedlot, sad, unhappy etc. They weren’t making any noise or moo-ing because they were tired, sluggish, overweight and mostly likely have just given up. (Okay I am going on here). But the fact that a meat plant was glorified – made me very angry. Why couldn’t they feature organic farmers like Joel Salatin or other places where America can be shown where naturally-happy raised animals are raised and that their innate diet should be weeds, grass and herbs?

What I did like:

That the Vegan movement was recognized and got the big OK from Oprah and was featured on TV. That is always exciting!
That so many staff made the commitment to go Veg for a week! I mean, what have they go to lose?

That Michael Pollan was on the show and made it clear that if you do eat meat- eat it fresh, local and organic. It’s the only way to go!

That a vegan diet can be high enough in protein as long as you choose whole foods like greens, beans legumes. This was mentioned on the show = 1 point, but not explained or showed  = -2 points.
That it takes time to transition to plant based foods and no one can make these changes over night. This goes for anything. It is all about small steps and little changes. But as long as people understand the benefits, than anything can happen!

There is room for error – you don’t  have to be 100% vegetarian or vegan. Just trust what is right for you and to be more aware. That is the message at the end of the day!

Oprah and her staff made mention and are going to embrace Meatless Mondays. This is a bold move for the Harpo staff to take on, it may just encourage more people around the world to take this on!

Final Thoughts:

I understand that a bridge needs to be gaped in order for America to make some changes, but it is away from all packaged and processed foods that we need to emphasize. America is already eating the worst foods from a package but changing that over to “vegan” junk is not the way to go. It wouldn’t have been that difficult to introduce quinoa, brown rice or even and spelt flour. Even a can of Eden organic beans could have been used as an example if necessary. The whole concept and benefits of VEGETABLES I think was not emphasized enough in this show. This could open a whole new chapter of information for viewers.

Now don’t get me wrong, Kathy Freston definitely did present some great points, but this was a chance to truly show everyone watching the power of plant based foods – I just wish it was taken advantage of!

Whats next…

There needs to be a few more follow up episodes to see how people are doing or to bring more WHOLE FOOD HEALTH information to America.

More experts in the field should have a chance to be featured. (Like me?)

More tools and key information that makes it EASY for people to make this transition to whole foods is essential – a cooking class, informative workshops/info sessions, a trip to the farmers market or an organic farm or building a community garden and at the very least… showing people how to shop properly and effectively in a grocery store.

See my tips on how to GO VEG and cut down on meat here!

I truly hope that those of you who watched the episode and who read my blog know that it is so much simpler then it appears to make changes to eat more healthfully. It can be as simple as adding greens to your smoothie or an extra salad a day! Read my article about going veg here!

If you are thinking of trying plants out or leaning in to veggie foods or being “vegan-ish” then you may want to continue to read my blog and get your hands on a copy of my book Veggin’ Comfortably. This will be available online via my website next week!

I didn’t cover everything, so please share your thoughts on the show, express points that I missed or things that were relevant to you.

What you liked, didn’t like. I want to hear!

What would be included in your Vegan Starter Kit?

Honey…your so sexy!

The newest addition to my pantry is my trio of NUDE BEE HONEY’s. This line came out in Toronto by two local boys. I love it. What is sexier then two men starting a honey line?

This brand in particular has some fine packaging, with a slick black label. It is a long tall jar, which is thin and elegant. I would take this honey out for a taste any day of the week. I would even love to just spread it, pour it and blend it into anything I create. It would make for a sweet addition that is smooth balanced and rich. That’s my kind of honey!

I should also mention that is honey, is untouched, raw in it’s own virgin state. What can be better than that. It hasn’t lost anything; it’s got everything it needs to give me what I need. Nutrients, enzymes, minerals and an unparalleled flavour.

It is also organic, coming from the purest of sources, no chemicals or strong or smelly aftertastes. It was created to be enjoyed… from bottom to top.

Now don’t get too picky, there are three fine honey’s to choose from:

Star Thistle – Works well with all natural of teas and can dress or top any dessert. This superstar possesses after notes of vanilla and lemon.

Honey Dew – This is a darker richer honey, which means it contains more vitamins and minerals. It is rich and fragrant so get your hands on some and add it to some fruit for a warming compote or natural jam.

Wild– The most versatile of the bunch, blending different local nectar’s. This honey goes both ways, and lends itself well to both raw and cooked recipes.

You can’t go wrong really – they all share similar qualities with subtle differences. I think you will be satisfied, no matter which way you go!

Take your honey a little further and use it to your benefit and create something magical together…. a recipe!

Feel free to pour your honey all over anything and everything that you are eating!

Wild Honey-Lemon Poppy Loaf

4 cups light spelt flour

1 cup Wild Nude Bee Honey

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp sea salt

½ cup poppyseeds

zest of 2 lemons

3 lemons, juiced

½ cup vanilla rice milk

½ cup grapeseed oil

1 tsp pure vanilla

½ cup filtered water

1.     oil and flour a 9x 5 inch loaf pan. Set aside.

2.     Stir together spelt flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt poppy seeds and lemon zest. Set aside.

3.     In a small bowl, combine lemon juice, honey with rice milk. Add to the dry ingredients in mixing bowl.

4.     Add grapeseed oil, vanilla and water to dry ingredients. Mix wet and dry ingredients together thoroughly.

5.     Pour the batter into loaf pan.

6.     Bake for 1 hour at 350F or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Photography by Assaf Friedman

The super seed that keeps on giving!

That’s right I’m talking about ch ch ch CHIA! This super seed is power-packed full of nutrients and is most definitely on my top superfoods list. I even think it is a daily must! You will not regret making chia one of your new favourite items in your diet! It is loaded with heart healthy fiber, essential fats, protein and will give you long lasting energy. If I were you, I would start your day with some Chia!

Nutritional Benefits:

As mentioned it is a soure of amazing long term energy, which overtime can actually help your body to function at it’s best and burn more calories throughout the day! Chia is also contains a high source of Omega 3 fatty acids – similar to flax. But where they differ, is that Chia actually contains a healthy dose of omega 6 – which makes it more well rounded. Be sure to get dark grayish Chia as it is nutritionally superior to the lighter kind.

Another thing to be aware of, is that Chia becomes mucilaginous when soaked; so go ahead and make a pudding, jam or smoothie out of it! The soothing gel derived from Chia helps to lubricate dryness on the skin and reduces nervousness, treats insomnia and improves mental focus. Also if you find you are a little backed up – take a dose of Chia  and things will move along just fine. Chia is brilliant for relieving constipation!

How you use it:

Chia seeds can be added directly into a recipe, whether it is a soup, smoothie, salad or your morning porridge – it goes with anything. However if you want to soak it, place 2 tbsp or more in a bowl and cover with some water. Wait about 20 minutes, and it will double in size and you will have a thick gooey pudding. Delicious! You can also add the whole seeds or ground chia into baked goods, granola or trail mixes or use it as a condiment or garnish. I actually use Chia seeds to substitute an egg in my muffin and baked recipes.

FYI – 1 tbsp chia + 3 tbsp water or 1/4 cup applesauce – is equivalent to 1 egg.

Where to buy it:

You can get Chia seeds at most health food stores in your local area. There are many varieties and brands popping up all over the place. I am a big fan of Navitas Naturals Chia, they are clean, pure and fresh tasting!

They do come from South America, so if you happen to be traveling down there, be sure to get your hands on some, along with other favourites like quinoa and cacao!

How to Store it:

Chia seeds are best stored in a sealed glass jar. You can keep them in the cupboard or place them in the fridge – especially for long term storage. Ground Chia is best kept in the fridge or even the freezer. I love to just keep a small jar on my counter for everyday use, I add about 1 tbsp to my smoothie or cereal every morning!

Super Chia Breakfast

1/2 cup rolled oats, cooked or sprouted buckwheat

3/4 cup almond or hemp milk

1 tbsp Chia seeds

1 tbsp Goji berries

1/2 tsp Cinnamon

1 tbsp Raw honey

Place rolled oats or cooked buckwheat into a pot.

Top with milk, chia, goji and cinnamon.

Bring to a low simmer for 5-10 minutes.

Stir in raw honey.

Enjoy!

For a  Raw Version- Place sprouted buckwheat or Raw Oats in your bowl and top with toppings! (oats can be soaked over night to make them creamy and soft.)

Top with fresh berries, banana slices, cacao or coconut flakes!

What goes in your cereal?

Make your list and check it twice!

I don’t know about you but I love to make lists, whether is for what I need to do during the week, what grocery’s I need to buy or what I need to make on a given night. They help to organize and sort things out or a list could simply mean ….presents!!! So why not take advantage and build your list up with amazing Eco & Food friendly items that will make for a happier and healthier new year!

Your list doesn’t even  have to be written down, save paper and make a word document or create a note online!

Gifts to Give

Gift Certificate to a Fully Nourished Cooking Class

Private Consultation or Makeover with Marni Wasserman

Enlightening Books (Eating Animals, China Study, Omnivore’s Dilemma) – Join My Book Club in 2011

Laptop lunch box – you don’t have to be a kid to have a lunchbox!

Stainless Steel Popsicle Tray – it may be cold outside, but there is no reason why you can’t make your own fruit based popsicles!

Sun Warrior Protein – use the coupon code MW007 to get 5% off your order!

Bamboo Utensils – for a soft touch on your pots and pans!

Organic Bathrobe – cozy, warm and clean!

Organic Cotton or Bamboo Sheets – for a soft comfort sleep every night!

Incredible new Cookware – that is toxin free, energy efficient and totally amazing!

Stocking Stuffers

Glass Dharma – to sip the best smoothies with Sun Warrior protein, fruit and goji berries!

Goji berries, Cacao or Chia – to put into your smoothie, cereal, muffins or trail mix!

Two Girls Cooking Crackers – yummy snacks to munch on!

Chocosol Chocolate – local, organic and pedal powered chocolate!

T-Sheres – to essentially relax and rejuvenate your body!

Eco-Jot Pads – to write down notes, consciously!

Kleen Kanteen – for tea, smoothies, water with lemon!

A Tin of Nourish Tea – green tea, herbal tea, white tea – for an incredible drinking experience!

Nude Bee Honey – local, raw and organic honey!

Righteously Raw Chocolate Bar – delicious, raw, organic superfoods chocolate bar!

Do your best not to buy new packaging and wrapping paper this year. Try to use old gift bags, ribbons, paper and tissue. Or better yet, get creative by using newspapers, magazines, shoe boxes and other cloths or blankets. You can even pack your gift into a RuMe bag! I am sure you can come up with some ideas on your own. As the amount of waste and garbage that is generated from holiday gifts is ridiculous. I know it can be exciting to open a present, (trust me, I love it)  but try and think outside of the “gift” box this year!

If you have more ideas to add to my GIFT GUIDE – please share below. I want to make this list as comprehensive as possible.

Thanks for your help!

Review: Chocolate Kale Chips…say what?

Well they have done it – matched two unlikely combination’s to make the perfect tastiest snack. Chocolate Kale Chips, can you think of a better combination? These are two foods that I tell people to eat just about everyday but why not eat them together? Not only that, their nutritional profile proves to be loaded with magnesium, calcium, iron, chlorophyll and fiber – delicious!

Blue Mountain Organics has truly proven to be a mastermind at creating to most unique blends of raw, organic snacks, treats, flours and desserts. I have had the extreme pleasure of enjoying their RAW Cashew Ice Cream (sorry no nutters, you are truly missing out). It is absolutely to die for! Words can’t even describe how good this frozen non-dairy dessert is. They also have a wide variety of unique supplements like carob powder, sunflower lecithin (soy free) along with sprouted beans and whole grains.

And of course some raw nut butter spreads from cashew, tahini, almond, pecan… you name it! They are called Better than Roasted because  for a RAW nut butter they taste pretty fantastic! Their online store, packaging and marketing is very cute, friendly and inviting. If you aren’t teased into at least buying 5 items on their website, I would be shocked! (and please make sure that Chocolate Kale Chips are on that order!!)

What is also truly amazing about all of their products, (and obviously why I am such a supporter) is that they are all superfoods, gluten free, dairy free, vegan, raw, kosher and organic. I wish there was a Blue Mountain Store right here in Toronto! But for now I will have to just order online – and pick up what I can at various health food stores in Toronto.

Real Life at the Whole Life

When you are as immersed in the nutrition and wellness field as I am – it’s hard not to classify yourself as a junkie. Most of the time, it’s for personal pleasure and just plain old keeping up to date with the latest! But more often then not, things are loaded on my plate? (No pun intended). Meaning – because I am in this line of work, people naturally approach me and ask all kinds of questions. Which is great, keeps me on my toes – but sometimes I don’t have the time or all the answers. That is why it is important that people empower themselves and become their own junkies. Find out what’s real and what’s not.

Which is great to a certain extent. We are in at age in society where we have everything we need available at our fingertips. Almost everything can be found online, in a book, magazine or health food store. This can be confusing and overwhelming though, as there is SO MUCH information out there. I’ll admit, it is tough when you are sitting at home by yourself trying to sift through articles, books and web pages…so why not get off your butt and experience your health in real life!

If you have the opportunity to go to a venue where all like-minded individuals and experts in the field come together for a weekend to bring you all of their wellness services, products, specialty foods and more – then why not take advantage. What I am talking about here is the…

Annual Whole Life Expo 2010

It is  at Metro Toronto Convention Center (North Building) – there will be a plethora of goodies to choose form, a range of talks, lectures and workshops to attend – and you may just get to experience whole health at first hand in person.

So on November 26, 27 or 28^th – come and make it out to the show. I will not have a booth at this show – but I will be there walking around, schmoozing and saying hi to all my like minded “nutrition junkie” friends!

Or if you are committed to BOOK YOUR TICKET ONLINE NOW -  post a comment below letting me know you did so and you will get 10% off your next Fully Nourished Cooking Class!

Hope to see you there!

UPDATE: I HOPE YOU MADE IT OUT THIS WEEKEND!

If you didn’t, here is a brief description of what you missed and what you can look forward to the next time you attend. I came on Friday night and again on Sunday. One day is never enough, especially when I have so many people to say hello to and so many goodies to pick up. Some of my favourite people to visit and products to pick up are :

Natural Calm: My good friends Dale and Linda are the perfect team to represent this amazing product line. Natural powdered magnesium, relaxes your body, calm’s your nerves (literally) and makes for a nice elixir before bedtime. Having trouble sleeping and keeping your leg’s still? Then you need a daily dose of magnesium. I should also mention that you can only absorb the calcium in your body with enough magnesium. Dale and Linda are also the people who I went to Africa with in May. A large portion of their proceeds go towards Organics 4 Orphans – and incredible organization that supports communities in Kenya to eat more Greens!

The Fairy’s Tonic: Zoey is miss Kombucha herself. This is one of the tastiest fermented health promoting beverages you will ever drink. Just 1 oz, and your body and mind are buzzing. Sip before or after any meal throughout the day and your body will be very happy!

Vega: For incredible, raw, vegan, plant based supplements – Vega has it all. Bars, shakes, smoothies to go. You don’t need to think twice about getting healthy food in on the go. Vega’s products are so complete and well rounded, loaded with protein, fiber and slow burning carbs you will feel amazing all day long!

Raw Elements: My friends Dawn and Brent are behind this amazing company. They are my supplier for all good things raw from goji berries, probiotics to my favourite protein powder Sun Warrior. If you didn’t get any at the show, you can order online and use the coupon code MW007 to get 5% off your order.

Upaya Naturals: An incredible resource for all your raw supplements, foods and equipment. They are always up to date with the latest products. Even the incredible cashew ice cream I mentioned last week from Blue Mountain Organics.

Some new friends include:

Girlnola: Stephanie is just buzzing with energy. Her granola is packed with antioxidants and superfoods. She also makes yummy truffles that are delicious and make great little gifts especially for the holidays.

Nud Fud: With Julia you will get a collection of healthy, organic and even raw bars, chips and cereals. Loaded with whole foods like nuts, seeds, dried fruits and veggies.

Some other Fav’s

Mark and Bridgette’s Chocolate

Two Girls Cooking

Traditions Miso

Camros Eatery

Vita Mix

Prana

Live

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